Dispensing device for soluble granular materials

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device for a soluble granular material is disclosed, which device comprises a tube formed of a liquid-impermeable material and of unitary construction, the tube being closed at both ends and having perforations along a portion of its length at or close to one end, and containing a soluble granular material. Preferably the lower end of the tube has a flattened, paddle-like portion, and the perforations are arranged linearly along opposite sides of the tube aligned with the edges of this flattened portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dispensing device for soluble granularmaterials and, more particularly, relates to such a device in the formof an elongate tubular device of unitary construction sealed at bothends.

Telescopic tubular packaging/infusion units are known. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 3,102,465 discloses a packaging/infusion unit which comprisestwo parts, one being a sheath element permanently closed at one end andaccommodating, via its other end, a foraminate charge-holding element.The latter may be completely retracted into the sheath element, and thedevice in this configuration may be sealed by a closure cap. Devices ofthis type are relatively complicated to fabricate and have not foundacceptance in the market place. Although U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,465 issuedon Sept. 3, 1963, there have not to our knowledge been any developmentsin the interim period which have enabled tubular packaging/infusiondevices to gain market acceptance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a tubular dispensingdevice which is simpler to produce than the packaging/infusion unitdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,465.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided adispensing device for soluble granular materials, which device comprisesa tube formed of a liquid-impermeable material and of unitaryconstruction, the tube being closed at both ends and having perforationsalong a portion of its length at or close to one end, and containing asoluble granular material. The solvent for the soluble granular materialwill in practice often be water, but the invention is not limited togranular materials which are water-soluble.

It will be appreciated that the grain size of the granular material andthe size of the perforations are selected so that the granular materialis prevented from spilling out via the perforations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferably, a device in accordance with this invention resembles and/oris formed from a drinking straw (e.g. formed of a synthetic polymericmaterial such as polyethylene or polypropylene). In order to fabricate adevice in accordance with this invention, such a straw may first besealed at one end, e.g. by clamping the end of the tube between hotmetal plates. Next the granular material is poured into the straw afterwhich the open end is sealed, for example by clamping it between hotplates. Perforations are provided along a portion of the length of thestraw, and these will usually be formed prior to the filling of thestraw with granulr material. The ease of fabrication of the device willthus be readily appreciated.

Preferably, the lower, sealed end of the tube has a flattened portion,and the perforations in the tube are located along the sides of the tubewhere an imaginary extension of the flattened end portion wouldintersect with the sides of the tube. There may in addition be furtherperforations adjacent to the flattened end portion. We have found thatsuch an arrangement does not retard the rate of dissolution of, forexample, sugar when the dispenser is used, but has the added advantagethat is prevents drips or spillage when the dispenser is laid flat afteruse. Where the perforations are arranged in lines as just described, thedispenser of the invention lends itself to fabrication by a laserdrilling technique. For example, an open ended tube of the desiredlength and diameter may first of all have one end (the lower end) sealedby a hot clamping technique which also serves to form the flattenedportion, after which the tube may be drilled in the desired locations bylaser, then filled with the intended soluble, granular material (e.g.sugar or soluble coffee granules) and its other (upper) end sealed. Thusthe dispenser can be manufactured by a simple, linear production scheme.If desired, the initial tube may be fabricated at the beginning of theline, e.g. by extruding, drawing or moulding a plastics material.

The invention is expected to find its main application for use as asweetening device. When the soluble granular material is sugar or anartificial sweetener, e.g. saccharin, in finely divided form, a deviceof this invention when stirred into a cup containing a beverage such astea or coffee results in rapid dissolution of the sweetener and itsdispersion, via the perforations, into the beverage. To aid dispersionof the sweetener or other granular material, that end of the deviceadjacent the perforations may be flattened (e.g. during the clampingoperation described above) to provide a paddle-like portion.

Preferably, the perforations extend over about 3-8 cm of the length ofthe device. Conveniently, the device will be 10-20 cm in length, andfrom 3-15 mm (typically about 8 mm) in diamter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the samemay be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way ofexample, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 show a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the article shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the article of FIG. 2 rotated about its longitudinalaxis through 90°.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, the dispenser in accordance with theinvention comprises a plastics straw 1 sealed at its bottom end 2 by ahot clamping device and having, adjacent to the sealed end 2, a seriesof perforations 3. These extend approximately half way along the lengthof the straw. As will be apparent, the end 2 of the device is flattenedand constitutes a paddle which assists in stirring the beverage withwhich the device is used. The upper end 4 of the straw is alsoheat-sealed. A fine granular material 5, e.g. sugar or saccharin, isencapsulated within the straw.

The embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is similar to that of FIG. 1 exceptin the location of the perforations; the same reference numerals areused to denote the same features throughout. In the embodiment of FIG.2, the perforations 3 are located only along opposite sides of the tube1 and are aligned with the edges of the flattened paddle 2, withadditional holes 3 immediately adjacent to end 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Asdescribed earlier, this arrangement is preferred because it is morehygienic in that because of capillary action drops of liquid do notspill out when the dispenser is laid onto a surface after use.

In use, the device is held close to its upper end 4 and is inserted intoa beverage in the manner of a spoon. By producing a stirring action, thegranular material 5 within the device rapidly dissolves as a result ofcontact through perforations 3, and is dispersed into the beverage.Because of its light weight and relatively inexpensive nature, thedevice is intended to be discarded after use.

We claim:
 1. A dispensing device for a soluble granular materialcomprising:an elongated cylindrical plastic tube of continuous unitarythin walled plastic construction as found in a straw; said tube having adiameter of between 0.3 and 1.5 centimeters and said tube having alength of between 10 and 20 centimeters; said tube having first andsecond ends, said first end being heat sealed and formed into a flatpaddle, having a transverse extent greater than the diameter and athickness of substantially twice the wall thickness of said tube andconstituting means for stirring a liquid, and said second end beingsealed; particulate material within said tube adjacent said first endthereof; said tube having perforations through the side wall thereof intwo zones only, the first directly adjacent said first end and thesecond at diametrically opposite sides of the tube extendinglongitudinally on the tube and aligned in a plane defined by the paddleto permit fluid engagement with said particulate material when immersedin fluid and prevent leakage of residual fluid from the tube when laidon a horizontal surface after use; whereby said dispenser may beimmersed in a cup of hot liquid and said particulate material dispensedinto said hot liquid, with said paddle serving to stir said liquid.
 2. Adispensing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body of said tubeis in the form of a plastic straw.
 3. A dispensing device as set forthin claim 1 where said particulate material is a soluble granularmaterial.